Despite the optimism around a domestic travel surge, new statistics show that the Tasmanian caravanning industry is still doing it really tough … and looks likely to continue to struggle.
Data released by Caravan Industry Association of shows the Apple Isle is the worst performing caravanning destination in Australia for November, with falls of 40% in caravan park occupancy rates compared to last year.
The peak body for the Tasmanian caravanning industry is appealing to the Federal Government to extend the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme and offer free travel for cars and caravans to support struggling local operators.
“Summer bookings remain soft across the state, and some urgent intervention needs to occur to give the necessary stimulus for interstate visitation to return,” said Caravanning Tasmania President, Bronwyn Wild. “If something doesn’t happen soon, Christmas caravanning travel will be lost to other states, resulting in millions of lost spending for the Tasmanian economy.”
With grey nomads and others being quite price sensitive, it is thought that the fares on the Spirit of Tasmania are a strong deterrent to travellers looking at domestic travel options as they come out of lockdown.
While Tasmania is consistently ranked in the top three desired caravanning destinations in the country, it is also falling behind due to the aggressive push from other states and territories to get their slice of self-drive holiday market.
The Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) has echoed the calls for free Bass Strait crossings for cars and caravans.
“Passengers who arrive by the Spirit of Tasmania stay longer, spend more and disperse further, supporting not only Tasmania but also stimulating the Victorian industry as well,” said CIAA CEO, Stuart Lamont. “The Passenger Equalisation Scheme is meant to normalise the costs of travelling on the water as if it was part of the road network.”
Mr Lamont said the Federal Government had already saved millions of dollars as Bass Strait has been largely closed during Covid.
Definitely would take Caravan across and spend a month travelling
Would take camper van Eg hiace
We would be there in a heartbeat. Last time it cost us $2700 return, no cabin, daylight sailing 2013. Haven’t been back with our caravan since. We love Tasmania and all it has to offer..Free car and caravan travel —— Bring it On!! Bruce and Marg…Baby Boomers On The Road….
Wow that was expensive, now it’s only $99pp + $99 car each way.
Cost is the only thing holding us back from a Tasmanian caravan holiday
Would love to cross to Tassie with car and van. At this stage too expensive so puts nomads off
Can cars travel free
Absolutely
ABSOLUTELY we would travel to Tassie if it was free.
Would live to see Tassie but the price to travel on the “Spirit” has forced us to look at staying on the mainland
No. Who is going to pay, our bloody taxes again!! The Gov has enough on it’s plate atm. Bloody hell, how much does it cost? Compare it to flying over? People need to learn to friggin pay their own way especially caravanas. Always looking for freebies along the way!!
Its 447kms to Devonport. To drive with a van, it would cost about $80.
Return airfares are about $1000.
Spirit of Tassie return trip is about $2200.
So we would like to take the van, but the cost is to high. If it was $1000, then we would go for sure.
How did you get to that enormous amount of $2200.
Exactly, it’s only $99 + $99 one way. That’s cheap.
I think about 25 years ago it was $ 10 or $ 20 for a car , then the Tas Gov. put it up every year ,the tax payers in Aus. paid for it .Not 100% sure ,maybe somebody knows more abaut it.
It doesn’t need to be free, just a more reasonable price.
Happy to pay but currently way to much we have a 28 ft Motorhome and 2 medium dogs not viable money wise
Great idea, We paid for a trip there and back 2 yrs ago.
Then the bush fires started so we had to cancel because of the smoke and my partners health.
Robbery on the high seas, refunded a very small amount.
So its flying there next time and hire a motor home.
Yes I would, love Tassie and given that the mainland is going to be so hot it would the perfect place to visit
Yes I would go. As it is the cost is prohibitive and I’d rather spend the money in Victoria
Sure would , we travel in our motorhome and tow a car as we live in it full time . At the moment we are saving for tassie trip but also have to save for spending money .
We would certainly head across if it were free to do so.
It would definitely encourage us to go to Tasmania. We visit every year to see friends for a month but we have not booked for next year because of the cost of getting across on the boat.
If the cost were lower we would consider shorter stints in Tasmania (2 or 3 weeks) but to justify the current cost we really need to spend a couple of months to make it worthwhile. The cost becomes a bit of a disincentive for us as we prefer the shorter trips.
Absolutely great idea. Last time I went we drove around with me having food poisoning for 3 days, so I could see what I missed
Not Free, but at a reasonable cost that most people can afford, and make cheaper cost for a couple of years , not just a couple of months.
Cheaper costs mean more people can travel, win win for ever body
We where quoted over $2500 for 23foot van and tow car, money can be spent in other states of Australia, at Tasmania loss
Yes a large reduction would help to fill boat but minimum stay say 10% for every week or set period of stay just a thought
Would visit for a month with van if crossing was cheaper, very expensive, hard to justify.
We would definitely take our van if the cost was a lot lower or not at all. The cost of the fare is a real disincentive to visit Tassy.
If you did this how many people would cross the ditch, it would make Tassie a shithole. Yes it could be cheaper but a user pays system, like most things, Should be reatained.
Yes would love to travel to Tassie with the caravan and car. Am happy to pay for a reduced rate. It’s way too expensive ATM
Definitely head for Tassie and stay 2 months or more if it was free to take my caravan across
We would travel and spend 3 months there
I’d love to take my campervan over but cant justify the current cost. If a return was free I’d book tomorrow.
This would be great as it’s the $2500+ cost that’s putting us off going. $2500 goes a long way caravaning than just to get across watershopefully they get rid of this ridiculous charge or at least lower it to make it more affordable.
And make dog accommodation better conditions for their 12hr trip so we can take our pooch too
Once there we are happy to spend our money supporting their economy and use doggy day carers for our dog when doing non dog friendly tours etc. but with the costs to get there being so expensive we have no choice but to travel on the mainland unfortunatelyas would love to experience Tassie but the costs are too exorbitant to get there & back.
I previously lived in Tasmania, but due to family issues I returned to the mainland. Now I am free to return with my motorhome, but the cost is prohibitive. Due to my age, over 70 years, I need a cabin, whether day or night, but even with a pensioner discount the cost is prohibitive for me.
One cannot expect others (the government) to pay for things all the time. That’s one of the reasons, living here in Tasmania, we prefer to have a motor home rather than a caravan, as it is only a fraction of the cost on the ferry compared to taking a caravan. We could do it even cheaper if we didn’t pay for a cabin, but no way are we sitting up again all night. Just booked the other day for a return trip at a cost of around $860 or so
and you have to travel through Melbourne to get to the port to embark…well, Melbourne was a COVID basket case for ages, now its basically school holidays…so we’ll think about going next year…but have fun booking …so lets do the exercise, March April 2021: 2 adults, 4wd, with a 16ft caravan: Cost= $1,500 return, seated in a recliner each way, with a “full refund” if cancel within 48hrs (no doubt not a full refund of all fees)…over $2,000 if you book a double room.
We have had 2 trips to Tassie with the ‘van, cost heeps for the crossings, but we made up by NOT staying in ‘van parks. If we had that money we spent on the ferry we would stay in parks and free camp a little. We can’t pay the ferry $$ at this time of life but would love to go back to Tassie to spend 3 or 4 months.
I travelled Tasmania extensively for work last Century and agree it is a wonderful place to visit for a holiday. In reality ferrying car and caravan to Tassy and back is cost prohibitive. Several years ago I purchased a two week holiday called Tasmanian Temptations, which included return air fares from Sydney, two weeks car hire and two weeks motel accommodation across the whole island – The cost was less than return trip on ferry alone and started at any mainland City – too good to miss. Perhaps this is still an option for those without the affordable means to see beautiful Tasmania.
If it’s free for mainlanders to enter and leave Tasmania. Is it also going to apply to Tasmanians leaving and returning or are they going to slug Tasmanians more to cover the free travel of mainlanders.
I would LOVE to take my caravan to Tassie but there’s no way I could afford it at the current rates! I agree that the price of the boat ride should be closer to the equivalent cost to drive/tow an equal distance on a road. I’d also much prefer to be able to sit/hang out in my van during the trip than have to sit up in a seating area…but I’m guessing the cars & vans are kept down below? I’ve never been on the boat so I have no idea… I love Tasmania. I visited many years ago when my hubby at the time was there for work. Was at Port Arthur a week before the massacre!
Yes we would, love to take the van but the cost at the moment are unrealistic
Yes Definitely, would love to travel Tassie with the van.
If the boat fare was around $1000 4×4 plus 23ft van would be there in a shot
Doesn’t necessarily need to be free, but half the cost ie $1000 return in lieu of current est. $2000 return would be fair.
I agree the fares are exorbitant however I don’t agree they should travel free. I am currently travelling in my van and intend catching the ferry over with the intention of staying a couple of months. If the fares were maybe 50% to stimulate travel I can assure you that other 50% saved will be spent in Tassie to help primary producers and small businesses.
If free return travel for car and van we would book in a flash. Happy to stay 2-3 months.
It is way too expensive but we’d love to take our van over for 3 months and spend our $$$
Would love to visit Tassie but the price of the trip with the van is out of our reach…..if you dropped it substantially we would be happy to go.
Yes we would such a beautiful place we were there for 3months last time and didnt see it all would love to have the opportunity to do it again
Can’t wait to go back as eight weeks was no longer enough. We are thinking three months next time. Would go sooner if the cost was a lot lower.
Free yes, but happy to pay reasonable price.
Would love to go and have been thinking of it. Subsidies would be good as most people would stay at least six weeks. Federal government should support travelers who will spend money and stay for a certain amount of time.
We have already paid and booked to go on the 5th of Feb, but a rebate would be nice as it is costing nearly $1800 for my wife,myself, car and Caravan
Yes that would be the only way for us to get to tassie for a few months
Could not afford the fees to get there so would have to travel on the main land only.
It is a definite yes for us. And we would put many dollars into their economy. Love the idea.
We would definitely go if it was free but would also be willing to pay up to $750 return.